After starting off a six-game homestand 0-1-2 that sent some headed for the panic button, the Lightning closed things out on a three-winning streak and earned points in five of the six games.

“A great homestand, especially after dropping the first one,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “There were (12) points on the table and we get eight of them, and it doesn’t matter how you get there, you just need the points. . . . we’ve gotten points in five straight games when we really need them.’’

Tampa Bay moved past Toronto and Montreal, both of whom were idle on Monday, into second place in the Atlantic Division with 14 games remaining for the Lightning, which will have two games in hand on both teams when Tampa Bay travels to Toronto on Wednesday.

The Lightning will carry some momentum into the three-game road trip after displaying many of the characteristics that made then successful in the first half of the season with a strong puck possession game, solid play in the neutral zone and an attacking mentality.